Mr. Warner, Your Wife is Running Away Again!-Chapter 682: Then Can You Wait for Me?

Hannah was still sulking over the pedestrian’s provocation just now, slashing at her steak as if it were someone she wanted to tear to pieces.

Evan glanced at the backs of the departing group, then turned to Hannah and asked, "What did they mean by what they said earlier?"

Hannah paused her steak-cutting momentarily, then complained to Evan like a tattletale, "They are with Grace, always like this at school, and even..."

"What I meant was, what did he mean by saying we’re together?"

Hannah was startled, lowered her head guiltily, not daring to meet Evan’s eyes, and stammered, "...just because they saw you helping me last time, and today we’re eating together alone, maybe it’s just a misunderstanding."

Evan looked at her skeptically, then picked up his fork, put a piece of beef into his mouth, chewed and swallowed, and said earnestly, "There’s no need to let external words affect you too much. While reputation is important, what’s even more important at your current stage is studying. In a better environment, you’ll find that people around you have much higher standards. It’s rare to find people who provoke others at their sore spots. Don’t alter your life over a few words from others. Vanity will gradually cause you to lose yourself."

Hannah’s expression dimmed slightly as she put a piece of steak into her mouth, seemingly pondering Evan’s words. Then she asked somewhat troubled, "But they keep bothering me; I don’t know what to do..."

"If it’s just verbal provocation, the best response is to ignore it. What they say is their business; what you do is yours. Why distort your own life over a few words from such people?"

"You’re still young and always fussing over these things; it’s normal. But no matter how you act, you can’t change how others perceive you. You haven’t figured out what you need internally yet. No matter how expensive the clothes, they only package the exterior. Inner improvement will make you someone respected. By then, even if there are still people speaking ill of you, there will be others who stand by and support you."

Hannah listened, her head spinning with Evan’s advice, before she nodded and said, "I understand, it’s about recognizing oneself first, then considering what you truly need inside."

Evan: "That’s one way to interpret it."

Hannah: "No one has ever told me these things."

Evan looked up at her with a brief silence and said, "Are you full? Would you like another serving?"

Hannah shook her head, "I want to be like you, to become someone like you in the future."

Evan chuckled, "What’s there to emulate about me?"

Hannah: "Will we meet again? Where are you transferring to?"

Evan paused and didn’t tell Hannah the truth, saying, "Not sure yet, just remember to study well at school and don’t think about those chaotic matters."

Hannah: "Will you wait for me?"

Evan: "Wait for you?"

Hannah: "Like, don’t get married just yet..."

Evan: "I just told you not to think about those confusing matters. You’ll encounter many more people in the future. At different times and mental states, what you want will be different. You’ll understand when you grow up."

February ended.

The weather had slowly begun to warm, the withered trees by the roadside sprouted new buds, and Audrey also entered her last semester of senior year.

On the first day of school, Audrey didn’t go to campus; as usual, she stayed home, only starting to worry about her graduation thesis.

During the winter break, she got lazier, now just wanting to eat and sleep every day, and take occasional walks nearby with Shane when he had free time.

Evan went out of town three days ago, about an hour and a half by high-speed rail, neither too far nor too near.

Having never left home before, Hazel was slightly uneasy about Evan’s trip. The family went to see him off at the high-speed rail station, creating a rather melancholic scene.

Evan didn’t know if he would still feel the warmth of his family the next time he returned home.

Although he appeared indifferent when talking to Catherine, in his heart, he was still worried about not being able to return to this home.

On that night after dinner, Hannah didn’t cling to Evan to take her to school for the new term; instead, she took a taxi by herself.

She no longer wore high-end brand knock-offs; instead, she wore styles she casually bought online that she liked.

The whispers around her continued, but she remained much calmer, no longer getting flustered by a few harsh comments, unlike before when she would become visibly upset, entertaining those who taunted her.

While outsiders’ remarks didn’t bother her as much, she still felt a sting in her heart seeing the difference in how her family treated her and Grace at home.

She felt that what she wanted now was to grow up early, have a job of her own, and then distance herself from this home.

Shane’s work started getting busy again.

But it was only busier compared to the winter break; compared to before, it was relatively relaxed.

Typically, he just attended meetings in the morning, handled some documents, then returned home around two or three in the afternoon to help Audrey with her thesis.

Audrey was very lazy, unwilling to rack her brain, wishing Shane would dictate to her, only leaving her the task of typing it into the computer.

But Shane naturally wouldn’t indulge her like that. He took out his college thesis, explained some techniques and methods to Audrey, and left her to figure out how to write it herself.

The weather grew warmer by the day, and Audrey, who was frustrated with her thesis, started tinkering with her little garden again.

But most of the work was done by Shane; she just sat on the swing, swaying while directing Shane on what to do.

Flora, after becoming pregnant, was also forced by Lucian to take a break from work. She often invited the idle Seraphina and Phoebe over to her house to play mahjong, watch movies, and chat.

Life was leisurely and pleasant.

Shane remained vigilant of his surroundings each day, but it seemed Catherine had no intention of making a move.

Just when he didn’t want to sit idly and was thinking of a way to draw her out, there was movement on Starfield’s side.

As usual, Shane finished the morning meeting and returned to his office.

Pushing the door open, he found someone inside, dressed in company cleaning attire, appearing to be a woman in her early fifties.

Shane frowned. Faye, seeing this, hurriedly approached and said, "Are you new here? Just clean the exterior areas; there’s no need to clean inside the office. Especially without permission, don’t enter President Warner’s office."